Santos defends CSG assessment process

Santos insists that extensive groundwater studies were completed on the gas project.

Santos

Oil and gas company Santos says it will fully cooperate with an investigation by Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission into the approval process of major gas projects in the state.

Santos has defended claims it tampered with the environmental approval process for its $18 billion gas project in Queensland.

Environmental specialist Simone Marsh, who in 2010 carried out a study of that project and another by QCG, told the ABC's Four Corners program there was political pressure and corporate interference during the process, and she was told point blank there would be no groundwater assessment.

Ms Marsh says she raised concerns in 2010 that Santos requested alterations to a number of documents in a non-transparent manner.

Complaints by Ms Marsh and others against Santos have been lodged with the commission.

Santos managing director David Knox told Radio National he stands by the integrity of his staff.

He also insists extensive groundwater studies were completed that have been confirmed by the Queensland Water Commission.

"It's a very significant process we ran through - as I say, it took 18 months, so there was a huge amount of communication between my staff and the department and a massive amount of those studies done," he said.

"Those studies have subsequently been followed up and confirmed, so the process from our side was run with the highest level of integrity and I just want to assure you of that."

Mr Knox also pointed out the Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation was not specifically about Santos.

"It's about the internal workings of the department, but absolutely we will fully cooperate," Mr Knox said.

"I think it's important to step back a bit and say what we're talking about is a new industry.

"We're absolutely committed to doing it, and doing it extremely well.

"Ultimately this is about jobs in Australia - it's about providing gas to drive manufacturing."